Iran corporate services
Company registration in Iran for foreign founders and businesses
A practical, document-led route to selecting an Iranian company structure, preparing the formation file and understanding what must happen after registration.
Start with the legal structure
Incorporation should follow the business model—not the other way around
Before reserving a name or drafting articles, the proposed activity, shareholders, management, funding and intended operations should be reviewed. The right form depends on how decisions will be made, how capital will be introduced and whether the activity needs a separate sector licence.
Foreign ownership can be possible in lawful private-sector activities, but nationality, sanctions, banking access, land use, regulated sectors and investment-protection objectives must be assessed separately. Company registration alone does not confirm that every proposed activity is licensed or operationally available.
Possible structures
Common routes that may be considered
The final choice must follow a case review. These are common starting points, not a universal recommendation.
Limited Liability Company
Often considered for closely held businesses with a defined group of partners. Governance, capital commitments and manager authority must be drafted carefully.
Private Joint Stock Company
May suit businesses that need a share-based structure, formal board arrangements and a clearer framework for future investment or governance.
Branch or Representative Office
A foreign company may need to evaluate a branch or representative-office route instead of a locally incorporated subsidiary. Permitted scope and supporting corporate records require separate review.
Formation workflow
A controlled company-registration process
Initial assessment
Review applicants, activity, ownership, management and intended market operations.
Structure and name
Select the legal form, define corporate roles and prepare compliant name proposals.
Document file
Prepare constitutional documents and confirm translation, certification and power-of-attorney requirements.
Registration follow-up
Track review comments, signatures, registration steps and official publication.
Operational readiness
Map tax, accounting, employment, banking and sector permissions after incorporation.
Document planning
What a foreign applicant should prepare for review
- Identity and address information for individual shareholders, directors or managers.
- Current registry extracts and constitutional documents for any foreign corporate shareholder.
- A precise description of the intended activities in Iran.
- Proposed ownership percentages, capital, management powers and authorised signatories.
- Candidate company names and an Iranian registered-address plan.
- Any power of attorney required for local filing and follow-up.
Documents issued outside Iran may require certified Persian translation, legalisation or other authentication. The exact route depends on the issuing jurisdiction and the competent Iranian authority; it should be confirmed before originals are dispatched.
We do not publish a generic “final checklist”
A useful checklist must reflect the applicant type, country of issuance, corporate structure and intended activity. Starting with the wrong certification route can create avoidable delay and rework.
Ask for a case-specific checklist →After incorporation
Registration is a milestone, not the end of the setup
Corporate records
Keep the official registration, articles, gazette publications, shareholder records and management authorities consistent and accessible.
Tax and employment
Assess tax registration, statutory books, accounting duties, payroll and social-security obligations before active operations begin.
Licences and trade permissions
Confirm industry permits, import/export eligibility and any commercial-card requirement independently from incorporation.
Questions foreign founders ask
Company registration in Iran: practical answers
Can a foreign individual own shares in an Iranian company?
Foreign participation can be possible, but the proposed activity, ownership, licences and compliance constraints must be checked before the structure is confirmed.
Do I need to travel to Iran?
Some steps may be handled through a properly executed power of attorney, while signatures, identification or sector procedures may still require personal action. The answer depends on the file.
How long does registration take?
No exact period should be promised before document readiness, name approval, authority review and any foreign-document authentication have been assessed.
Can the company import and export immediately?
Not necessarily. Incorporation and eligibility for regulated trade or customs activity are separate matters. A commercial card or other permissions may be required.
Request a company-registration eligibility review
Send the intended activity, applicant nationality, proposed shareholders, management plan and whether the business needs foreign-investment protection, sector licensing or import/export activity. We will identify the correct next questions before documents are prepared.
